Our City p1 19/7/12 16:09 Page 1 Stoke-on-Trent ISSUE 28: JULY 2012 Our City Victorian splendour rejuvenated Restoration project heralds new era for Burslem Park SEE PAGE 17 Our City p2 19/7/12 16:58 Page 1 2 Our City JULY 2012 Progress will Council in line for three national WOW awards benefit every STOKE-on-Trent City Council has been The Day Rehabilitation Team based at the South Locality, has been shortlisted for shortlisted in three categories at the national St Michael’s House has made the shortlist in Most Inspiring Front Liner 2012 (Public Sector). resident... so WOW! Awards – the only awards based purely the WOW! You Changed My Life category. One of her nominations read:“Tracy is a on nominations from customers. One nomination read:“Before I was wonderful person and really cares for each The city council is up for Best Local introduced to the Rehab Team, I just wanted to and every family who passes her path.” please join in Authority 2012, which reflects the quality, lock the door, throw away the key and die. I The judges will hear presentations in By City Council Leader quantity and diversity of nominations sent in have now got my life back.The experience has London in September before the winners are praising the council’s commitment to changed my life.” announced at the gala awards ceremony in Councillor customers. Tracy Jackson OBE, Strategic Manager for the capital on 3 December. MOHAMMED PERVEZ IT is a year since we launched our ambitious Mandate for Change THE with its clear top priority of SHAPE OF creating jobs for the people of THINGS TO COME... Stoke-on-Trent. Cabinet Member for It was important at this Economic Development landmark to invite our partners, Councillor Mark Meredith residents, the business at Staffordshire community and the voluntary University’s sector to give us their feedback new science on the first year. building. We wanted to see where the Mandate for Change has already had an impact (see the feature on the opposite page) but also to find out what we need to do more, what we need to do less and what we need to do quicker. It is important that we make sure everybody understands what Mandate for Change is all about, so we can encourage them to participate – because each and every resident, business and organisation has a role to play. Now we need everyone to realise this, and join in. This is how we will accelerate the progress being made in our city. ALKS are already We must not forget that these under way to start are very difficult times for the ball rolling on a councils, and that the austerity T massive redevelopment of Plans in the pipeline measures announced by the Government look like continuing Stoke town centre for some time to come. including job creation and It is a tribute to the hard work regenerating derelict sites. and commitment of councillors, It is aimed at “filling the gap” for big Stoke boost officers and our partners in the left when the city council public, private and voluntary transfers its main offices to the sectors that so much is being city centre in 2015 to kick start development... a landmark for office development, complete expressions of interest, some of the city and visible to thousands with a customer hub where the which we received during the achieved in terms of the huge Central Business District there. of motorists passing every day public can access a whole range MIPIM regeneration event in regeneration. One of the city’s biggest on the A500. of services and a new central the South of France. It is astonishing, when we have employers has already expressed Work has already started to library. “And developing the Spode had to cut our budgets by around an interest in moving into one of clear the land at the Central Cabinet Member for Economic site is an important part of our £60 million over the last two the offices which will be vacated Business District, which will Development, Councillor Mark strategy for the town.” years, that we are talking about by the city council. eventually provide office space Meredith said: “The Central Stoke-on-Trent’s Inward stepping up the pace of change to And an exciting plan is also for around 6,500 workers as well Business District will not only Investment Team is currently improve quality of life in our city. being hatched to transform the as a gym, cafes and bars. boost our city’s economy but will working on 24 active But we must keep up that site of the former Spode factory As the so-called anchor also provide an opportunity for opportunities that will lead to an momentum, in spite of the fact into a 21st Century learning, tenant, the city council will move the city council to reduce the investment decision in the next that council finances will continue training and leisure into a 140,000 sq ft two storey number of buildings it occupies 12 months. to be under significant pressure. to save money. Stoke could also be at the It’s clear that we will not be “But we are also working hard centre of plans to make the city able to sustain and grow the to support the economy of Stoke energy self sufficient, with the Codes make surfing simple town centre by filling buildings civic centre and other buildings number of jobs in the public which will become empty, with heated using surplus warmth sector, so we must attract even QR codes like this one are printed alongside articles and advertisements throughout this issue workers who will spend money from other buildings. more private sector jobs. in local shops, cafes and other Cabinet Member for Green of . They are direct links to a world of We have started the process Our City businesses. Enterprises and City Services and won’t stop until we succeed. relevant information on the internet. “Part of our Mandate for Councillor Andy Platt said: We will face up to the This one is a link to the city council’s main Change is to attract jobs and “We’re looking at how a number challenges ahead, and nothing homepage, but a QR code can be produced to link investment. We have already had of projects around the Stoke will shake our passion to improve to any site online. All you need to do to use the QR code is download positive talks to attract town plan can be implemented. the quality of life of our citizens. a free app to your smartphone or tablet. Take a photograph or scan investment to Stoke. We are We’re not simply writing off the QR code using your phone and the app will take you online. following up a number of Stoke. We’re investing in Stoke.” Live webcast of full council meetings Give us your feedback on this issue of MEETINGS of the full council can now be viewed online. To see and hear Our City by emailing Our City is printed on the debates and decisions which affect life in Stoke-on-Trent, visit recycled paper.When [email protected] you have finished with stoke.gov.uk and click on webcasting. this publication please A list of dates and times of council meetings and committee meetings or write to: help the environment by passing it on to a can be found on our website at stoke.gov.uk/meetingdates FREEPOST Our City. friend or recycling it. Our City p3 19/7/12 16:59 Page 1 JULY 2012 Our City 3 3,248 kick the habit to beat target QUIT smoking services in Stoke-on-Trent have smashed targets to achieve their best results ever. In the year to March 3,248 people managed to kick the REGENERATION IN ACTION... left to right, 200 jobs created at Steelite International, solar panels on the roofs of hundreds of homes and half a habit for at least four weeks billion pounds being spent on the City Centre, including the massive City Sentral development, are just a few of the achievements under the city – almost 30 per cent more council’s Mandate for Change. than the target of 2,500. The NHS Stop Smoking Service in the city offers: ● One-to-one or group support. Mandate challenge now is to ● Free friendly advice on preparing to quit, quitting and staying quit. ● Stop smoking medications such as speed up successes patches or chewing gum which are available for the cost of a prescription USINESS leaders charge, or free to people and community who do not pay for Brepresentatives have prescriptions. challenged the city council ● Stop Smoking support is to step up the pace of its also available in GP Mandate for Change and surgeries, pharmacies and drive forward the city’s other community venues. regeneration even quicker. Acting Director of Public An event staged to mark the Health Dr Zafar Iqbal said: first 12 months of the ambitious “This record breaking year programme celebrated success shows how much is being across areas including: done to help support those ● Securing 500 new jobs via help people who want to quit in from inward investment and our city. increasing the number of new “I’d also like to say well businesses. done to all those people ● Setting up an inward who have given up – we investment team to roll out the know it’s not easy.” red carpet to companies ● To find out more about wanting to locate in Stoke-on- support to stop smoking Trent.